Events

Maurice PAPERNY

PAPERNY, Maurice
1928-2019
With deep sadness we announce the passing of Maurice Samuel Paperny, peacefully at home on September 9, 2019 at the age of 90. Maurice was born at the Holy Cross Hospital in Calgary on December 6, 1928 to Annie and Leo Paperny. Maurice grew up in Calgary amidst a large and loving extended Shumiatcher and Paperny family. He attended the I.L. Peretz School, Earl Grey and Central Memorial High School before leaving for the University of Toronto where he graduated with a degree in political science and economics. Upon graduation, Maurice decided to explore the world travelling to Europe and Israel on his own. He returned to Calgary to join his father in his toy and book wholesale business, Alberta Book & Novelty. In 1953 Maurice went to Vancouver and met the stunningly brilliant Myra Lee Green. Myra was leaving Vancouver to attend graduate school at Columbia in New York City. Upon her graduation, Maurice, the consummate salesman, persuaded Myra to leave New York to marry him and live with him in Calgary. Maurice enjoyed a highly successful career as an entrepreneur. He was curious, a risk taker with incredible foresight. The risks paid off. Maurice's understanding of the real estate market paved the way for the creation of a strong private real estate company, a long-time presence in the hospitality industry and in diagnostic imaging. Maurice also unleashed his unbridled enthusiasm and social conscience on the broader community, locally, nationally and internationally. Amongst his myriad of leadership contributions, he was President of the Calgary Civil Liberties Association, the Calgary Philharmonic, a founding board member of Alberta Theatre Projects, President of the I.L. Peretz School, The Calgary Jewish Centre and the Calgary Jewish Community Council. He was on the Board of Governors of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, the Canadian Zionist Federation and a proud member of the Liberal Party of Canada. His commitment to the Calgary Jewish Community is but one of his enormous legacies. Maurice's greatest success was found at home. He shared a love of travel, art, music, literature, politics, tennis, hiking, biking and enjoying life to its fullest with his beloved Myra and his four children, their spouses and grandchildren. Maurice was predeceased by his parents Annie and Leo Paperny, his in-laws Jessie and Mischa Green, his sisters Evelyn Rothstein (Aser) and Juliette Shapiro (Jack). He has left a huge hole in our hearts and will be dearly missed by his wife of 65 years, Myra, his children Marina Paperny (Shep Secter), David Paperny (Audrey Mehler), Cathy Paperny (Ron Ritch) Lorne Paperny (Raechelle), grandchildren Michael Secter (Katie Tedham), Anna Mehler Paperny, Samara Secter (Kris Collins), Daniel Paperny (Lindsay), Juliet Paperny (Jaylen Gadhia), Shoshanna Paperny, Leo Paperny, Yaelle and Alex Ritch, and his first great-grandchild Zoe Rose Paperny. Memorial tributes may be made to the Paperny Family Fund at the Jewish Community Foundation of Calgary. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, September 11 at 1:00 p.m. at the Beth Tzedec Synagogue, 1325 Glenmore Trail SW, Calgary.

Lorne and family.
Very sorry to hear of your father’s passing. My thoughts and wishes are with you and your family. May the many fond memories of your father provide comfort. Please accept my condolences.

Donna Rooney

Sep 12, 2019

Such a beautiful tribute to a remarkable man. We enjoyed being neighbors to Maurice for almost 25 years and it is sad that Maurice will no longer be on Riverdale Avenue , a location he loved. Our sincere condolences to the entire family.

Donna Rooney , Gary Cronin and family.

Jeanne Lefebvre and Harvey Olsen

Sep 12, 2019

Dear Shep, Marina and Family

We are very sorry to hear of your father's death. Losing a parent is always hard. However, he appeared to have a wonderful, fulfilling life. And he left a wonderful legacy: each of you. You are in our thoughts and prayers.

Andrew Raphael

Sep 12, 2019

Sincere condolences from the Vancouver Raphael clan.
What a Mench! Maurice’s energy , lust for life , humour and kindness was wonderful and widely admired .We are all fortunate that this spirit will carry-on through his terrific family ....RIP.
Shalom in the Home ,
Andy

Marcia Decter

Sep 11, 2019

Dear Marina and Shep, So very sorry for your loss. My deepest condolences.

Nadia Fortuna

Sep 11, 2019

My deepest condolences to you and family. He was indeed an inspiration. Please know you are in my thoughts.

Maury Corday

Sep 11, 2019

So sorry to hear the sad news of Maurice’s passing. He was my dad’s best friend and x business partner. May he Rest In Peace
Maury Corday

Marina, Shep and Family,
We are so sorry for the loss of your father and grandfather. He was a pillar of the Calgary community and he will be missed. Our thoughts are with you all during this sad time.

Hollie Shapiro

Sep 11, 2019

A remarkable man, a remarkable legacy, never without a smile and always giving with such a kind heart.
Our love and condolences to the entire Paperny family.

elaine hawco beares

Sep 11, 2019

Dear Marina and Family
My condolences to you during this sad time
May your many fond memories be a comfort in the days to come
Elaine

Christopher MacRae

Sep 10, 2019

My deepest condolences to the entire Paperny Family and extended family.

Maurice encouraged me as a young man to call him my “ Zaida Mo”.

I’ll miss you Zaida Mo and I’m so happy to have had you in my life!!!

Christopher

Stephen and Sue Anne Valentine

Sep 10, 2019

Condolences Lorne / Raechelle and family

Calgary has certainly lost a bright light-

We saw Maurice just last week out on the street enjoying the sunshine and , as always , he gave us a great smile as we passed by

The city will miss him greatly.

Carol Leyton

Sep 10, 2019

Maurice from the first minute I met him has always been my favorite person in our family. Will always miss him

Helen Vanderburg

Sep 10, 2019

I am so sorry to hear of your father's passing. My thoughts are with you and your family. He was an amazing man and will be greatly missed. Please accept my condolences.

Leighton McCarthy

Sep 10, 2019

I am sad to learn of Maurice's passing. I met him through my association with the library community and his long lasting friendship with John Dutton. On every occasion I met him he never failed to impress me with his generous and giving nature.
I send my sincere sympathy to Myra and the family.he will indeed be missed by those who knew him in so many of the organizations he supported.

Hal Whyte

Sep 10, 2019

My first memory of the Paperny family dates back to the late 1940's when as a young boy I first met Leo Paperny at ABN. Much later I met Maurice and mentioned that I had met his father and that though a fleeting moment, still remembered him as a very kind gentleman. This was the start of a long association with Maurice and his family. A few years after this meeting I started working with him as first General Manager of ABN and later as a partner in that company. I have many fond memories of that association as ABN grew to be the premier book wholesale company in Canada. He, like his father, was a first class gentleman. Family was very important to him, as were his friends and associates. An... astute businessman, but also a great lover of the arts and the community. He will be missed by many. I am sorry to hear of his passing and my thoughts and love to Myra, Marina, David, Cathy and Lorne and their families. halRead more

Bonnie Jones

Sep 10, 2019

Maurice will be missed by many, a fabulous business man and overall human being, it was my honour and pleasure to work with Maurice and I will remember fondly all the time I had the pleasure of spending with him. My thoughts and prayers are with the entire Paperny Family.

Patti & Ralph Aknin, Jeff and Rich Eichler

Sep 10, 2019

We are saddened by the loss of such a great pillar of our community, our history and of Yiddishkeit. Maurice, Myra & the Paperny family were part of our extended Peretz Shul family who together with our dear folks of blessed memory sustained a dedicated group of "shul-tuer" ensuring the survival of the Yiddish language and culture. May his memory be for a blessing.
Patti & Ralph Aknin, Jeff and Rich Eichler